Sydney (May 23).— KFC Queensland Breakers needed three minutes of sudden death to overcome reigning champions Fremantle Mariners in the opening game of the semifinals series of the National Water Polo League at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre tonight.
And Sydney University Lions scored a last-second goal to beat minor premiers Wests waterpolo Magpies 14-13 in the other semifinal.
The Breakers-Mariners match was tied at 6-all by full time and 7-all after two periods of extra time.
Anthony Martin sent in an outside shot 2:59 into the golden-goal period to claim the first game of the best-of-three series.
The Breakers led 4-2 after three periods of normal time and 5-3 in the fourth but the 10-time grand-finalists Mariners brought the game level with two quick goals to Adam Richardson and Tim Neesham near the end of the quarter.
Neesham had another chance to win the game on penalty but his shot was stopped by dual Olympian Raf Sterk 30 seconds from the buzzer.
Neesham sent the Mariners ahead in the first period of extra but Chris Corbin claimed a superb backhand goal to level in the second period, sending the game to sudden death.
If Fremantle is to go to an 11th consecutive appearance in the grand-final series, it needs to beat the Breakers twice tomorrow.
In the second encounter, Wests came back from the dead when twice down by four goals in the third period.
Wests closed to 10-8 at the final break and through sheer persistence dragged back the deficit with Canadian international Daniel Stein tipping in a shot eight seconds from time for 13-all.
Sydney University played the ball up past halfway and Trent Franklin took the foul and spirited the ball down to two metres to James Young who tipped in with a second left.
Results:
MAY 23:
Men:
Men semifinal A1:
KFC Queensland Breakers 8 (B Miller, S Dornin 2, C Corbin, T Jenkins, A Martin, M McCann) Fremantle Mariners 7 (T Neesham 3, N O'Halloran, D Lawrence, M Ainsworth, A Richardson) at 2:59 into sudden death (FT: 6-6. EXT 7-7). KFC leads series 1-0.
Semifinal B1: Sydney University Lions 14 (G Richardson, T Woudwyk 3, T
Franklin, R Maitland, J Young 2, L Hollis, K Mitchell) Wests waterpolo
Magpies 13 (J Cotterill 4, R Campbell, D Stein 3, T Marks, S Cody, D
Streets). Sydney University leads series 1-0.
Women:
Semifinal A1: Brisbane Barracudas 14 (S Smith 4, M Rippon 3, J Moran, K
Gynther 2, G Wikman, C Grayson, K Bryce) Sydney University 12 (N Cuffe
8, M Hammond 2, L Robertson, K Gofers). Brisbane leads series 1-0.
Semifinal B1: Fremantle Marlins 9 (G Beadsworth 4, G Ralph 3, K
Finucane 2) KFC Queensland Breakers 5 (N McCarthy, S Fraser, B Knox, S
Mills, K Miller). Fremantle leads series 1-0.
MAY 22:
Men
Elimination Final A2: Sydney University Lions 9 (N Cargill 3, J Young,
A Visch 2, G Richardson, T Woudwyk) Victorian Tigers 7 (R Moody, I Lark
2, L Gavin, C Gronow, T Birkett).
Elimination final B2: Fremantle Mariners 11 (P Tresise, T Neesham, D
Lawrence, M Ainsworth 2, N O’Halloran, A Younger, A Richardson) Balmain
Tigers 5 (T Delany 4, G Woods). Fremantle wins series 2-0.
Elimination Final A3: Sydney University Lions 9 (T Franklin 3, G
Richardson, A Visch 2, R Maitland, K Mitchell) Victorian Tigers 5 (A
Feltham 2, C Gronow, A Edwards). Lions win series 2-1.
Women
Elimination Final A2: KFC Queensland Breakers 9 (B Knox 3, S Horgan, N
McCarthy, S Fraser, S Mills, A Hetzel, K Miller) Balmain Tigers 8 (T
Woods 5, L Simms, L Varlow, A Turnbull). KFC wins series 2-0.
Elimination Final B2: Brisbane Barracudas 10 (J Moran 3, K Bryce, K
Gynther, E Keogh 2, M Rippon) Cronulla Sharks 9 (J Liessmann, J
Santoromito 2, B Appel, H Lincoln-Smith, A Miller, E Douglass, K
Gruber) in extra time. FT:8-8.
Elimination Final B3: Brisbane Barracudas 10 (J Moran 3, M Rippon 2, S
Smith, C Grayson, K Bryce, K Gynther, E Keogh) Cronulla Sharks 8 (H
Lincoln-Smith 3, B Appel, J Liessmann, J Santoromito, E Douglass, K
Douglass). Brisbane wins series 2-1.
MAY 21:
Men:
Elimination Final A1: Victorian Tigers 10 (A Schoneberger 3, L Gavin 2,
R Moody, A Feltham, S Boyd, C Gronow, S Lewis) Sydney University Lions
9 (A Visch 3, T Franklin, G Richardson 2, R Maitland, L Hollis).
Elimination final B1: Fremantle Mariners 12 (P Tresise, M Ainsworth 3,
T Seress, T Neesham 2, T Cleland, A Richardson) Balmain Tigers 11 (G
Woods 4, N Falzon, C Dyson, T Delany 2, A Laws).
Women:
Elimination Final A1: KFC Queensland Breakers 15 (B Knox 5, S
Mills 3, N McCarthy, A Hetzel, K Miller 2, S Horgan) Balmain Tigers 10
(T Woods 4, L Simms, A Turnbull 2, N Dyson, N Saville).
Elimination Final B1: Cronulla Sharks 17 (B Appel 4, J Santoromito, N
Zagame, K Gruber 3, H Lincoln-Smith, J Liessmann, E Douglass, C Kerr)
Brisbane Barracudas 15 (K Gynther 5, S Smith 4, J Moran, M Rippon 3).
For finals pictures, check out www.pearsephotography.com.au
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